Wake Board approves land transfer to support health and education district development

The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the transfer of more than 12 acres of county-owned property to Wake Technical Community College and WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

This move paves the way for major expansions to Wake Tech’s health sciences campus and WakeMed’s main campus. It will finalize agreements between the County, Wake Tech and WakeMed to bring a shared vision for a future Health and Education District to life. This district will integrate health care, public health, education and community services in one area of Raleigh to better serve residents.

“This collaboration is a model for how local government, higher education and health care systems can work together to improve community health and wellbeing,” said Susan Evans, chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “By planning together, we’re creating a district that removes barriers to care and education for years to come.”

As part of the plan:

• Wake Tech will receive 7.78 acres from Wake County. This represents the land on which Wake Tech currently is located. WakeMed will provide six acres to Wake Tech, primarily to support the construction of a new 106,000-square-foot health sciences simulation hospital and a new parking deck, as well as space for future classroom buildings.
• WakeMed will receive 5.14 acres from Wake County to prepare for campus upgrades as part of the shared district Master Plan. The property, which currently includes a public health building and parking lot, is located at 10 Sunnybrook Road.
   

Wake Tech and WakeMed will cover the cost of constructing and maintaining a new road extension which will connect the campuses and improve access. The transferred properties will be permanently dedicated to educational or community hospital use.

“This land transfer is the catalyst for a new era of healthcare training in Wake County,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “It paves the way for a new state-of-the-art simulation hospital that will equip more healthcare professionals and allows for future opportunities to serve our growing communities.”

Health and Education District

Wake County, Wake Tech and WakeMed began working on a long-range master plan for the area in 2022, and in 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate development and support a shared vision. The City of Raleigh approved a rezoning for the area to a Campus Master Plan district in October 2024.

Wake County is also nearing completion of its new Public Health Center within the district, which will expand access to essential health and human services.

“The rewards from this forward thinking, public-private partnership positions all three organizations to maximize the available real estate to achieve the highest and best use for Wake Tech, WakeMed, the Health & Education District and our entire community,” said WakeMed President & CEO Donald Gintzig.

Under state law, the property transfer to WakeMed will take place at least 10 days after a public notice is issued. Transfers to Wake Tech are expected in early fall 2025, with WakeMed’s transfer following shortly afterward. Construction of the new facilities is set to begin soon after, marking the first major milestone in the creation of the Health and Education District.

The Board’s actions support their focus area of community health and wellbeing relating to low barriers to health care and behavioral health services.